Honoured . . .
The tributes have flowed in the week since the new Life Members for 2024 were inducted at the League’s October executive committee meeting. And that’s not surprising given the standing of the 3 men in the spotlight that night – former MSBL competition secretary Phil King, Sinclair’s hugely popular stalwart Peter Spragg and the legend of Shropshire bowls that is Brian Shore. …
All Square
All square at 3-3 – that’s the score in the annual challenge match for the Dave Ellis Shield after the Ladies pulled off a narrow triumph at Edgmond in the 2024 contest. They retained the trophy after beating the Gents by seven shots in the 17-a-side clash played on Wednesday 2nd October – and are pictured celebrating with it The Ladies made …
Champions!
Congratulations to Shifnal A, Trench A and Newport C for finishing top of the pile in divisions 1-2-3 respectively on Fridays. First time champions Shifnal (pictured after their 9-4 home win over Hadley USC on the final night – but with the new Harris Shield!) will now play double champions Woore on Wednesday 2nd October for the right to take on Horsehay …
Fine Finale!
The heavy rain may have done its best to wreck the scheduled last night of the Dennis Lewis Thursday Division, but all seems set fair for a thrilling end to the Friday divisions compaign tonight. Shifnal A go into into their home match against former title hopefuls Hadley USC knowing they need just seven points to guarantee being first division champions for …
Call To Arms!
How ironic that, having finally got a spell of sunny and dry weather, the 2024 season is fast drawing to a close. But not before two big events – the League’s executive meeting on Tuesday 1st October and the ladies v gents challenge match for the Dave Ellis Shield 24 hours later. Edgmond will host the traditional fun night that brings the …
New Hope!
It’s been 5 long years since Stockton BC featured in the League – but that could be about to change in 2025. The village club alongside the A442 Bridgnorth road in Norton boasted a first division side in 2019, when fixtures were still 12-a-side. Then the Covid pandemic, falling membership and the sad passing of the much missed Stockton stalwart Mark Bennett, …
Big 3 Days!
It’s a massive 3 days for the League this weekend with crunch fixtures tonight (Friday 30th August), the Ashton Cup and Ashton Shield finals tomorrow evening and the Thursday Merit at Donnington Wood on Sunday. Topping the bill tonight is the first division clash between leaders Sinclair A and their main title rivals, visiting Shifnal A, who won so impressively at Hadley …
Extra, Extra!
Read all about it! Newsletter No. 4, covering the August and September 2024 period without League meetings, is now available. For all the news from your officers and dates for the diary please go to Admin on this site and then League minutes and you will find it there available to peruse or download. And the key date to note is Saturday …
Well Done!!
Title races and promotion pushes are hotting up in divisions right across the League – but congratulations for being the first confirmed champions go to Wrockwardine Wood. They finished top of the re-launched Saturday Division by winning all their 10 fixtures – but it was Chris Hayward, chairman of Allscott Heath BC, who finished top of the singles averages. Congratulations also go …
Great Greens
Four League clubs are through to the final judging for this year’s Shropshire Best Kept Green accolade. Worfield, Wrockwardine Wood’s No. 1 green, Edgmond and Trench were all successful in the area judging and will hope to take the 2024 crown come September. And if Trench come out on top then it would be two years in a row for groundsman David …
Crunch Clash
It’s top of the table clash time tonight – Friday 8th August – in the division one championship chase. And Hadley USC will make the short trip up the Waterloo Road to face leaders Sinclair as new holders of the Shropshire Cup. A strong start and a remarkable recovery were the key factors as HUSC won the 2024 KGJ Insurance-backed title last …
Up For Cup!
Former League competition secretary Phil King (pictured) and his Hadley USC team-mates are wished the best of luck as they try to win the Shropshire Cup for the first time tomorrow – Saturday 3rd August. The division one title chasers take on Bridgewater at Bicton (6.30pm) after both stunned semi-final opponents in the KGJ Insurance-backed 10-a-side knockout for the first time. Hadley …
Do Us Proud!
Four bowlers who play in the League are wished the best of luck in the British Senior Merit finals tomorrow – Saturday 27th July – just down the road in Wolverhampton. County Merit winner Josh Bradburn is a regular in St Georges’ Dennis Lewis Thursday Division side, Peter Farmer plays for Allscott Heath B in the same division and Sam Millward has …
Winter plans?
The current league season is only just past the halfway mark but one Mid Shropshire club is already planning for winter. Allscott Heath aim to make full use of their new home, which includes an all-weather artificial green at the new sports complex, by launching a closed season league for bowlers from the Mid Shropshire area. “Our new facilities include an all …
Tributes Flow
It’s a Friday and the late John Lovett – one of the most popular bowlers to have played the game in Mid Shropshire land – would have been eagerly looking forward to having a game. Tributes poured in as news of his passing earlier this month spread far and wide. The Horsehay man died, aged 74, and his funeral will be at …
Champs Rule
It wasn’t all plain sailing but the League’s young bowlers have kept a firm grip on the Shropshire junior inter-league championship. With Mid Shropshire hosting the under-18 competition at Wrockwardine Wood on Sunday 14th July, it was a case of home, sweet home for them after it had been cancelled last year. Captained by Luke Morris, Mid Shropshire A beat Tanners Shropshire …
W Wd wow!
What would the League do without Wrockwardine Wood this season! The Wrockites, with club secretary Louise Cotton at the helm, hosted two Mid Shropshire competition last weekend – the Junior Doubles and the Monday Merit finals (see full reports from both on posts below). And this coming Sunday – 14th July – Wood’s 2 greens will be the scene of the Shropshire …
Up To Clubs!
Honouring those who have served the League and its clubs with distinction is high on the agenda of the July executive meeting on Tuesday the 2nd at the Bayley Club. Clubs have been asked to nominate people they feel should be awarded life membership of the MSBL at a meeting that will also feature competition and sponsorship updates, a Shropshire inter-league round-up …
Key Questions
Can John Breeze retain the title he won last year in such convincing style at Bylet? Can past winner Paul Beer, a sponsor of the competition, make League history by becoming the first bowler to win both this title and the Over-60 Merit in the same season? Can the three other past champions in the 16-strong field – Stuart Church, Les Mumford …
Double Date
Competition secretary Rob Burroughs won’t know if he’s coming or going this weekend as he copes with a double header of League events. First up is the Mid Shropshire Junior Day on Saturday 22nd June at Albrighton from 10am. Both the Under-18 and Under-15 Merits will be played and the incentive for the League’s young bowlers to enter is that the host …